Does FedEx Deliver To PO Boxes?

With the rise in eCommerce popularity recently, many people are turning to P.O. boxes for their delivery for a number of reasons. The biggest reason is security. Having a package delivered to a P.O. box is much more secure and greatly reduces the risk of theft. However, not all carriers can deliver to a post office box. FedEx is a very popular delivery service in the United States, and you already know that they deliver to both residential and business addresses. However, will they deliver to a P.O. box? Keep reading as we give you all the details on how to get your FedEx delivery completed to a post office box.

Table of Contents

No, FedEx does not typically deliver to PO boxes. Once you understand the reason why, it will begin to make more sense. Think about how post office boxes work. When you set up a PO box, you are given a key to the box for access. The box stays locked to remain secure. The U.S. postal service actually owns the box, and you simply rent the box from them. The only people who can access your post office box are you and the postal worker who places your mail into the box.

FedEx does not deliver to PO boxes because they have no way to place your item or package into the box. They cannot enter the post office and access your post office box. Only the USPS workers have access to place mail or packages into your box. This is why FedEx can only deliver to street addresses. It is not because they are choosing not to deliver to your PO box. Rather, they do not have the ability to make a final delivery to a post office box. However, there is a way to make it happen. Just keep reading to find out how.

The Trick To FedEx PO Box Deliveries

Although FedEx does not deliver to PO Boxes using their traditional FedEx Ground service or FedEx Express service, there is a way to have your FedEx package delivered to your box at the post office. The trick to making that delivery happen is by using FedEx SmartPost. This service is now called FedEx Ground Economy. With this shipping option, FedEx contracts with USPS to make the final-mile delivery. This means that FedEx will deliver the package to your local post office, and USPS will make the final delivery. In that case, USPS has the package, and they have access to your PO box. So, this is how you can get a FedEx package delivered to a PO box.

There is also another way that you can use FedEx shipping for package delivery to a post office box. However, it has more to do with how the post office is set up rather than the shipping service you use. Some post offices are more competitive than others. At these locations, the postal service can charge more for box rentals. When you rent a box, you are not just assigned a PO box number as the PO box address. Instead, you are provided with a street address and a number without reference to a post office box. In that case, FedEx will drop off your package at the post office, and the postal service will get it to your PO box for you.

Similarly, most third-party mailbox companies also allow deliveries by FedEx, UPS, DHL, and other carriers. It works the same way as the competitive post offices or a virtual office. You are given a street address and a suite number to represent your box number as your shipping address. The carrier will leave the package with the workers there, and they will either put the package inside your box or hold it at the desk for you to pick up.

For some international locations, it is possible to send a package to a PO box using FedEx Express. This includes Puerto Rico and military post offices (APO/FPO/DPO). You will need to provide a valid telephone, fax, or telex number when you make the shipment.

Using FedEx SmartPost For PO Box Delivery

So, how do you use FedEx SmartPost to send an item to a PO box? Using the service is not difficult. You can either visit a FedEx location or print your own shipping label through a FedEx account at FedEx.com. Just make sure that you select FedEx SmartPost as the shipping service. Otherwise, you might find that your package encounters a delivery exception when the carrier realizes that the delivery address is a PO box.

FedEx SmartPost can be used for all domestic shipments. This includes Alaska and Hawaii, as well as U.S. territories like Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the post office will be making the last-mile delivery, there are a few additional rules that you must adhere to. First, the package must weigh less than 70 pounds to qualify for SmartPost shipping. The combined length and girth dimensions of the package must not exceed 130 inches.

When it comes to delivery time, most SmartPost packages are delivered in 2 to 7 business days. Saturday delivery is included with the service at no additional charge. While FedEx delivers on Saturday and Sunday in some cases, SmartPost does not include Sunday delivery. The delivery options with SmartPost are more limited as it is not a guaranteed service. Delivery redirects requested by the shipper cannot be performed when using SmartPost, and free package pickup is not available for SmartPost. However, it is still a cost-effective method for getting your packages delivered in a timely manner. For this reason, many Amazon and eBay sellers turn to SmartPost as their shipping solution.

What Is FedEx SmartPost?

So, just what is FedEx SmartPost? We have already discussed a little about how the service works and how you can use it to deliver a FedEx package to a PO box. Now we will dive into more detail about the service, including delivery time and cost. You might also hear this service called FedEx Ground Economy. Here are the details you need to know about the SmartPost FedEx service.

— Shipping Times

So, how long does it take for FedEx SmartPost to deliver a package? Most items sent through SmartPost are delivered within 2 to 7 business days. The specific delivery time will depend on just how far the package must travel. Most shipments within the contiguous United States are delivered within seven days. However, if your package is traveling to Alaska or Hawaii, it will likely take longer. Similarly, if your package is headed out of the country, you can expect that additional time will be needed to get the package to its final destination.

— SmartPost Cost

FedEx SmartPost rates are a little expensive when compared to some options offered by the United States Postal Service. For a 1-pound package traveling less than 150 miles, the cost is $8.23. However, the price increases as the size and weight of the package increase. Likewise, the price increases as the distance the package must travel increases. For example, a 70-pound package traveling outside the contiguous U.S. would cost nearly $200 to ship. Other shipping companies also increase their shipping costs as the package size and distance traveled increase.

— Service Area

FedEx SmartPost has a pretty extensive service area which means that you can send packages to a number of different places using the service. It covers nearly all domestic locations within the contiguous United States. In addition, you can ship packages to Alaska and Hawaii using this service. Also included in the service area are many U.S. territories, including Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Finally, FedEx SmartPost can be used to send items to nearly all military post offices around the world.

— Size And Weight Restrictions

Since the post office is making the last mile delivery on FedEx SmartPost packages, the items sent through this service must adhere to the post office limits on the size and weight of the package. This means that the weight limit on SmartPost packages is lower than traditional FedEx Ground service. The package must weigh less than 70 pounds to use SmartPost. The combined length and girth dimensions of the package must be less than 130 inches. If the package exceeds either of these limits, then SmartPost will not be an option. You must select a different FedEx service, and the package will likely need to be sent to a physical address instead of a PO box.

Other PO Box Delivery Options

Many people wonder what other options exist for getting a package delivered to a PO box besides FedEx SmartPost. The most obvious choice is any service offered by the U.S. Postal Service. Since the postal service has access to all post office locations, they can easily deliver your items to a post office box. All of their services, including their Priority Mail Express service, can deliver to a PO box. This means that you can even use this service to get overnight delivery to a PO box.

If you prefer not to use USPS, then UPS also offers an option for delivery to post office boxes. UPS SurePost is the service they offer that allows them to contract with USPS for the final delivery. UPS SurePost and FedEx SmartPost are extremely similar services. In this case, UPS delivers the package to your local post office. The postal workers then make the final delivery – either to your home or business or to your PO box at the post office. Even DHL offers a service that allows the post office to make the final delivery. So, there are plenty of options out there for getting a package delivered to your PO box!

The Bottom Line

Although traditional FedEx service does not deliver to PO boxes, there are ways around this. The easiest way is to use the FedEx SmartPost service. This service allows FedEx to make the delivery to your local post office. The postal workers then make the final delivery. Since they have full access to the PO boxes, they have no problem making the delivery to a PO box. Similar options also exist with UPS and DHL, and some post offices even allow packages to be delivered to them by providing you an address that appears more like an apartment’s residential address instead of a PO box.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if you FedEx to a PO Box?

If you attempt to FedEx a package to a PO box, it will result in a delivery exception in some cases. The FedEx system will not allow you to enter a PO box as the shipping address typically; however, sometimes, the system might not catch the error. Visiting a FedEx location can help solve this problem, but packages sometimes make it into the system improperly. If you need to send an item to a PO box, you will need to use FedEx SmartPost. This FedEx service has no problem delivering to a PO box, and it will get your item there quickly and safely.

Which carrier can deliver to a PO Box?

Technically, the only carrier that can deliver to a PO box is USPS. However, FedEx, UPS, and DHL all offer options that allow USPS to make the final delivery. These carriers all offer a service that allows them to drop off the package at your local post office. In that case, the postal workers would then place the item into your PO box.

Why won’t FedEx deliver to a PO Box?

FedEx won’t deliver to a PO box because the law does not allow it. USPS workers are the only ones authorized to access post office boxes. FedEx workers cannot go into the post office and place a package into your PO box. So, this prevents them from making a delivery to a PO box. However, their SmartPost service lets them drop the package at the post office. The postal workers then place the package into your PO box for final delivery.